Before You Crucify A Nigerian Referee

In a bid to sensitize the general public on the laws of the game, the Nigerian Referee Association has decided to share some important aspect of football rules in what some may call fire-fighting or image redemption quest with regards to the recently concluded Nigerian Professional Football League season.

The NRA in what it termed pubic outreach program with the aim of educating the public on crucial aspects of the Laws of The Game; Law 5 ( AUTHORITY OF THE REFEREE) shared via social media through its National Publicity Secretary, Kelechi Mejuobi on a Facebook group.

That the association does not have its own website where it can post such important information is a discussion for another day but, can we really cut referees some slack as we look forward to next season of the Nigeria Football Premier League season and other lower leagues in the country? Okay, let us get familiar with these laws just so everyone is clear on why referees make certain decisions.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game 2016-17 (Part One) is the same guiding the round leather worldwide as released by the NRA reads:

The authority of the referee

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match.

Decisions of the referee 

Decisions will be made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws of the Game and the spirit of the game and will be based on the opinion of the referee who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game.

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official, provided play has not restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half (including extra time) and left the field of play or terminated the match.

If a referee is incapacitated, play may continue under the supervision of the other match officials until the ball is next out of play.

Powers and duties

The referee: 

Enforces the Laws of the Game.
Controls the match in cooperation with the other match officials.
Acts as timekeeper, keeps a record of the match and provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, including information on disciplinary action and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the match.
Supervises and/or indicates the restart of play.

Advantage
Allows play to continue when an infringement or offence occurs and the non-offending team will benefit from the advantage and penalises the infringement or offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds.

Disciplinary Action

Punishes the more serious offence, in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact, when more than one offence occurs at the same time
Takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences
Has the authority to take disciplinary action from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6); the referee will report any other misconduct.
Has the power to show yellow or red cards from entering the field of play at the start of the match until after the match has ended, including during the half-time interval, extra time and kicks from the penalty mark.
Takes action against team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner and may expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds
acts on the advice of other match officials regarding incidents that the referee has not seen

Injuries
Allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is only slightly injured.
Stops play if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. An injured player may not be treated on the field of play and may only re-enter after play has restarted; if the ball is in play, re-entry must be from the touchline but if the ball is out of play, it may be from any boundary line. Exceptions to the requirement to leave the field of play are only when:
A goalkeeper is injured
A goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need attention
Players from the same team have collided and need attention
A severe injury has occurred
A player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (e.g. reckless or serious foul challenge), if the assessment/treatment is completed quickly
Ensures that any player bleeding leaves the field of play. The player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the equipment.
if the referee has authorized the doctors and /or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play.